Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashleé Lindo Ansah.
Ashleé Lindo, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I consider myself an imported Georgia Peach – I was born in the Bronx yet raised in Atlanta. I grew up with an incredible imagination and experiencing all disciplines of art. I used to write stories about being finding the cure for autism, going with my mom to see stage plays and Alvin Ailey performances, reading books about teenage love and taking dance lessons.
I decided that I wanted to go back to New York for undergrad because I thought Computer Science was going to be ‘my thing’, which is a bit contradictory to how I was raised. Taking Comp Sci 1 proved otherwise. I settled on Graphic Design and Business Management. I guess I was always destined to do something in art and design. Graduating college in 2010 during the recession was tough so after working retail and nanny for a year, I was able to secure a junior graphic design position.
It was during this time, I become obsessed with social media. Instagram and Pinterest were still in its infancy. I began reading books and articles about how to manage social for a company. With very little experience, I became the first Social Media Marketing Coordinator at the Cobb Energy Centre. It was the perfect blend of two passions: the arts and social media. After nearly 3 years, I knew how important agency experience is as a marketer. In 2015, I landed my first agency role a few months after getting married to the love of my life. Two agency roles and a lay off later, I am figuring out next steps – whether to continue pursuing full-time opportunities or take the leap into entrepreneurship.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing is ever a smooth road. I graduated in 2010 when the job market was less than desirable. I took many unpaid internships, worked retail, became a nanny to generate income and gain experience. I was blessed to live at home with my parents so I had no overhead. But that is not the life I imagined living after graduating college. I expected a full-time job with benefits. But I had to keep a grateful perspective that at least I had a roof over my head and food to eat. Even now being recently laid off, I am so thankful that I can lean on my husband and know that brighter days are ahead of me.
I would tell young women that have 1-3 year plan of what you want to accomplish in all aspects of your life. Travel, career, relationships, mentally, physically. Make sure all your actions level up to your plan. It’s easy to say what you want in life but actions and discipline get the desired results. Many people might not get your vision. When I decided to transition from design to social media, my parents didn’t get it, especially because social media was so new. As Jamaican immigrants, they wanted me to pursue something that seemed more traditional. But I stood my ground and told them that social media will literally change the way we interact. Things have come full circle now – my dad LOVES to send me videos via Facebook messenger like 3-4 videos a day. LOL!
Trust your vision and pursue it with relentless discipline. Acknowledge the Godwinks along the journey and celebrate the wins especially the small ones.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am your business’s Creative Digital Strategy partner. Basically, I help small business owners and entrepreneurs increase the online visibility through content creation, design and strategy. I leverage my experience of working with big brands like DASANI, WEtv, Minute Maid to assist small brands with their marketing efforts. Many times small business owners don’t have strategies and systems in place to create content for their marketing channels. I use these same strategies and systems in my business so I am confident that it works for my clients.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
With the #TimesUp campaign, I think the future is very bright for women. I don’t understand how the gender that is the incubator for the human race is paid lowest or receives fewer opportunities. It boggles my mind. Women are literally superheroes.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleelansah.com
- Email: ashlee@ashleelansah.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ashleelansah
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/ashleelansah
Image Credit:
Dimitri Crowder
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